Arthroscopic Superior Capsular Reconstruction With Tensor Fascia Lata Allograft for Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears: Clinical and Radiologic Outcomes for a Minimum 1-Year Follow-Up.

PURPOSE: To confirm the radiologic and clinical outcomes after performing arthroscopic superior capsular reconstruction (ASCR) using a tensor fascia lata (TFL) allograft. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with irreparable rotator cuff tears were treated with ASCR with a TFL allograft. The mean age and follow-up period were 62 years and 20.1 months, respectively. TFL allografts were used as 3, 4, and 6 layers, and the graft thickness was 3.7, 3.9, and 5.4 mm, respectively. Range of motion, visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, and Constant score were evaluated preoperatively and at the final follow-up. The pre-, postoperative, and final acromiohumeral distances (AHD) were compared. The graft integrity was checked through a follow-up magnetic resonance imaging at least 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: Torn grafts were identified in 6 cases (19%). AHD significantly increased from 5.0 to 8.0 mm postoperatively (P < .0001). However, there was no significant difference of 5.0 mm at the final follow-up AHD. Five cases (83%) of torn grafts were induced in the 3-layered graft sheet group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = .067). Visual analog scale, forward elevation, internal rotation, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, and Constant scores significantly improved at the last follow-up. Two cases of early infection were confirmed and the graft materials were all removed. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the possibility of early infection, ASCR using TFL allograft is a reliable procedure for the irreparable rotator cuff tear. In particular, if the number of layers of TFL allograft increases, it is judged that it could become a more effective graft. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

The potential of locking plate with intramedullary fibular allograft to manage proximal humeral fracture with an unstable medial column.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the potential of locking compression plate with intramedullary fibular allograft in managing proximal humeral fractures with an unstable medial column. METHODS: Between March 2007 and March 2015, we retrospectively analyzed 63 patients who underwent locking plate fixation for proximal humeral fracture with an unstable medial column. All patients were assigned into group 1 (patients treated with locking plate) and group 2 (patients treated with locking plate with intramedullary fibular allograft). Groups 1 and 2 were composed of 29 and 34 patients, respectively. We analyzed bone union, the neck-shaft angle, the Constant score, the range of motion, and complications. RESULTS: The mean average bone union time of the patients was 13.9 weeks in group 1 and 11.3 weeks in group 2. The average Constant score was 67.4 in group 1 and 73.6 in group 2 (p < 0.05). The mean preoperative NSA, postoperative NSA, and NSA at the last follow-up were 104.4°, 125.8°, and 115.8°, respectively, in group 1, and 109.0°, 130.3°, and 127.1°, respectively, in group 2. The mean forward flexion, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation were 109.0°, 48.2°, 34.0°, and L5, respectively, in group 1, and 127.5°, 118.2°, 38.7°, and L1, respectively, in group 2. In group 1, avascular necrosis occurred in one patient and screw cutout in two patients. In group 2, screw cutout occurred in one patient. CONCLUSION: In patients aged over 65 years with proximal humeral fractures, an unstable medial column was associated with poor clinical results owing to varus collapse. To prevent this, an intramedullary fibular allograft was used, and radiologic and clinical results were better with this approach than with a locking plate alone. Therefore, locking plate fixation using a fibular allograft is one of the possible treatments for patients with an unstable medial column.

A humeral hemiarthroplasty with biologic resurfacing of the glenoid using an allo-Achilles tendon: two case reports.

A hemiarthroplasty with biologic resurfacing of the glenoid is one procedure that can be performed in young patients where total shoulder arthroplasty may be difficult. The authors introduced two cases in which this procedure was performed. This approach is one treatment option for young glenoid humeral arthritis patients that addresses some of the shortcomings of an isolated hemiarthroplasty.

Comparison of Structural Integrity and Functional Outcome Between Delaminated and Nondelaminated Rotator Cuff Tears After En Masse Arthroscopic Repair: A Retrospective Cohort Study With Propensity Score Matching.

BACKGROUND: Arthroscopic repair of delaminated rotator cuff tears (RCTs) has shown poor prognoses. Despite the importance of delaminated tears, only a few studies have compared delaminated and nondelaminated tears. PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes and structural integrity after en masse arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between delaminated and nondelaminated RCTs and to evaluate whether infraspinatus tendon involvement affects the prognosis for delaminated tears after arthroscopic cuff repair, through use of propensity score matching for precise comparison. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: This study included 180 consecutive patients with medium- or large-sized RCTs who had an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with a minimum 2-year follow-up, of whom 57 and 123 had delaminated tears (group 1) and nondelaminated tears (group 2), respectively. The en masse repair technique using a single-row or transosseous-equivalent double-row suture-bridge technique was used for of all the delaminated cases. Preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale pain scores, shoulder active range of motion, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores, and Constant scores were assessed. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed at least 24 months postoperatively to identify retear of the repaired rotator cuffs. After propensity score matching, 32 cases in both groups were successfully matched, and the clinical and radiological results were analyzed. RESULTS: Before propensity score matching, postoperative clinical outcomes were improved, showing no significant differences between the groups, excluding forward elevation ( P = .011). Groups 1 and 2 had 17 (29.8%) and 11 retear cases (8.9%), respectively ( P < .001). After propensity score matching, only the ASES score (72.5 vs 77.1) showed a significant superiority in group 2 ( P = .038). Propensity-matched groups 1 and 2 had 8 (25.0%) and 2 (6.3%) retear cases, respectively ( P = .034). No significant difference was found in structural integrity depending on whether the RCT included the infraspinatus tendon (IST). The odds ratio for retear of the delaminated tears, including IST, was 5.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.0-30.0, P = .038). CONCLUSION: Delaminated RCT was a negative prognostic factor of structural integrity after repair and could affect the functional outcome. However, whether IST tear was involved had no effect on the prognosis after repair.

Relationship of the Shape of Subacromial Spur and Rotator Cuff Partial Thickness Tear.

BACKGROUND: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between location of the rotator cuff tear and shape of the subacromial spur. METHODS: Totally, 80 consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic repair for partial thickness rotator cuff tear were enrolled for the study. Bigliani's type of the acromion, type of subacromial spur, and location of partial thickness tear of the rotator cuff were evaluated using plain X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging. We then compared the groups of no spur with spur, and heel with traction spur. RESULTS: Of the 80 cases, 25 cases comprised the no spur group, and 55 cases comprised the spur group. There was a significant difference in type of tear (p=0.0004) between these two groups. Bursal side tears were significantly greater (odds ratio=6.000, p=0.0007) in the spur group. Subjects belonging to the spur group were further divided into heel (38 cases) and traction spur (17 cases). Comparing these two groups revealed significant differences only in the type of tear (p=0.0001). Furthermore, the heel spur had significantly greater bursal side tear (odds ratio=29.521, p=0.0005) as compared to traction spur. CONCLUSIONS: The heel spur is more associated to bursal side tear than the traction spur, whereas the traction spur associates greater to the articular side tear.

Morphologic Factors Related to Repair Outcomes for Delaminated Rotator Cuff Tears: A Minimum 2-Year Retrospective Comparison Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical outcomes and repair integrity after en masse transosseous-equivalent suture bridge repair for delaminated rotator cuff tears and to analyze the morphologic factors related to clinical outcomes and repair integrity. METHODS: This study included 99 patients who underwent the technique of en masse transosseous-equivalent suture bridge repair for delaminated rotator cuff tears. Morphologic factors were estimated using magnetic resonance imaging, and clinical outcomes were evaluated using the University of California, Los Angeles score; American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score; and Constant shoulder score. The morphologic factors included the shape of delamination, retraction length of the bursal and articular layers, gap distance between the layers, and length of the intrasubstance cleavage. According to follow-up magnetic resonance imaging, cases were categorized into the intact or retear group. The morphologic factors were compared between the 2 groups, including the correlation between the morphologic factors and postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: Retears occurred in 26 of 99 cases (26%). In both the intact and retear groups, the University of California, Los Angeles, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, and Constant scores improved postoperatively (P < .0001). The most common delamination shape was that of a more retracted articular layer in retears. We found no differences in retears in terms of the retraction length of the bursal layer, gap distance, and length of the intrasubstance cleavage. However, the retraction length of the articular layer differed significantly between the groups (P < .0001). No correlation between the morphologic factors and clinical outcomes was found. CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic en masse transosseous-equivalent suture bridge repair is a useful technique in delaminated tears to achieve optimal repair outcomes. In addition, although there was no correlation between the morphologic factors and postoperative clinical outcomes, the retraction length of the articular layer was identified as a significant factor influencing repair integrity. We recommend emphasizing the reduction of tension within the articular layer during the repair procedure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparison study.

Factors affecting rotator cuff integrity after arthroscopic repair for medium-sized or larger cuff tears: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: We wished to identify the preoperative prognostic factors associated with structural integrity after repair of medium-sized and larger rotator cuff tears and to determine the cutoff values using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. METHODS: The study included 180 patients with medium-sized and larger rotator cuff tears. Each had a minimum 2-year postoperative follow-up by magnetic resonance imaging. We assessed several patient-related and disease-related preoperative factors using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. To determine the cutoff value for the significant variables, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed. RESULTS: Retears occurred in 28 of the 180 patients (15.6%). Univariate analysis found that retear was significantly affected by the type of work and pattern of tear. The rate of retear was significantly increased in diabetes and with increasing tear size, extent of retraction, delamination, and fatty infiltration. Furthermore, reduced remnant tendon length, distance from the musculotendinous junction to the face of the glenoid, occupation ratio, and acromiohumeral interval were also significant risk factors. In the multivariate analysis, body mass index, diabetes, dyslipidemia, extent of retraction, delamination, distance from musculotendinous junction to face of glenoid, occupation ratio, fatty infiltration of infraspinatus, and acromiohumeral interval remained significant risk factors. The extent of retraction (22.2 mm) and the occupation ratio (53.5%) showed highly accurate cutoff values for predicting retear. CONCLUSION: Multiple factors influenced the healing process after rotator cuff repair. The best predictors were the extent of retraction and occupation ratio, which could help assist in determining the prognosis after rotator cuff repairs.

Medialized repair for retracted rotator cuff tears.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional outcomes of medialized rotator cuff repair and the continuity of repaired tendon in chronic retracted rotator cuff tears. METHODS: Thirty-five consecutive patients were selected from 153 cases that underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair for more than medium-sized posterosuperior rotator cuff tears between July 2009 and July 2012 performed with the medialized repair. All cases were available for at least 2 years of postoperative follow-up. The visual analog scale of pain, muscle strength, Constant score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and University of California-Los Angeles score were evaluated. RESULTS: At the final follow-up, all clinical outcomes were significantly improved. The visual analog scale score for pain improved from 6 ± 1 preoperatively to 2 ± 1 postoperatively. The range of motion increased from preoperatively to postoperatively: active forward elevation, from 134° ± 49° to 150° ± 16°; active external rotation at the side, from 47° ± 15° to 55° ± 10°; and active internal rotation, from L3 to L1. The shoulder score also improved: Constant score, from 53.5 ± 16.7 to 79 ± 10; American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, from 51 ± 15 to 82 ± 8; and University of California-Los Angeles score, from 14 ± 4 to 28 ± 4. The retear cases at the final follow-up were 6 (17%). CONCLUSIONS: Medialized repair may be useful in cases in which anatomic bone-to-tendon repair would be difficult because of the excessive tension of the repaired tendon and a torn tendon that does not reach the anatomic insertion.